Fiber roll former



2,447,604 3 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 24, 1948. T. c. TAGGART FIBER ROLL FORMER Filed Ju1y l2, 1944 NViFITOR. ggar zaffiwe ATTORNEYS.

it I i L 7 1943- T. c. TAGGART 2,447,604

7 FIBER ROLL'FORMER Filed July 12, 1944 I :s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO ATTORNEY Filed July 12, 1944 .3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ENTOR" Thoma s 6. 7233.?

INV

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 24, 1948 UNITED "OFFICE 3 includes 3, preferably steel supporting platform l5, including side rails l6 and H and end rails 18 and I9. These rails may be supported upon Suitable legs 20.

A pair of shafts 2i and 22 are rotatably supported upon the rails l6 and I! of the supporting platform in suitable bearings 23, at each side of the means provided for supporting the roll forming drum B. These shafts 2| and 22 have keyed thereon suitable roll drive wheels or members 23 and 21 respectively which are transversely fluted or grooved for the purpose of frictionally engaging the material to be wound upon the spool B in order to better rotate the spool B and form the r0115 thereon. These driving wheels or members'ZB and 21 are preferably of metal and rather heavy in structure and they are of a width which will not necessitate their removal should it be desired to change from one Width drawings.

As part of the frame'jstructure C, I provide a pair ofsideboards or walls 33 and34 detachably and adj ustably mounted upon the supporting platform l5 by means of end angle brace structures 38, and by means of intermediate angled bracing members 39 which also assist in guiding the shaft II as the roll is formed upon the drum B. y Theguide Wall 33 at oneside of the roll may be divided into two parts, and similar construc tion'provided for the guide wall 34. The wall supporting members 38 are preferably metal Ls including vertical portions 44 which are detachably connected by suitable bolts to the walls33 and 34. -They furthermore include horizontal foot portions 45 which are longitudinally slotted at .46 and adjustably receive clamping bolts 41 which are threaded in the supporting platform 15. Thus the walls 33 and 34 may be laterally adjusted to the desired spacing to suit the width of the drum or spool being currently used. Of course, these walls 33 and;34 are suitably cut away to receive the driving wheels 26 and 21, since the latter are of a'width which will enable the walls 33 and 34 to be relatively spaced to suit a wide range of roll widths.

The intermediate brackets 39 are of metal and include vertical angled portions 53 and angled foot portions 5!. One flange of the latter is slotted at 52 to receive frame attaching bolts 53. The vertical angled portions 50 are detachably. connected to the wall portions 33 and 34 by means of bolts 55. The wall portions 33 and 34 may extend full lengths along the insides of the vertical portions 50. The intermediate roll guide and wall supporting angles 39 arespaced at each side of the machine to definevertical slots or ways 63 which receive therein the ends of the shaft II in order to guide the drum vertically as the fibre roll is formed thereon. It is noted that the width of this space .60 is of a dimension which will permit the entire. shaft II to pass therethru, including the head portions thereon.

It is readily apparent that by reason of the slotted construction of the foot portion ,of the angles 'orbrackets 3B and 39; the walls 33 and 34 may be laterally spaced to suit the width of the roll desired. 1 ,Since the vertical portions 53 of thebrackets 39 may be relatively high, as where large diam- The shaft 2| is a drive shaft 4 etered rolls are desired, the upper ends thereof may be detachably connected together by means of a bolt and sleeve construction 62, shown in Figure 1.

The connecting members i3 for retaining the shaft l I in position are of the construction shown in Figure 9. They are elongated and intended to slide against the outer edges of the laterally projecting flange portions of the angles 50, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings. They include keyhole-shaped openings laterally therethru including the lower larger portions l0 thru which the head portions H. of the shaft H may freely pass, and upper reduced portions H connected 1 therewith which receive the body of the shaft II but will not permit the flanges or head portions I2 to pass therethru. This locks the shaft H in position against lateral displacement, as is quite obvious, and yet permits the shaft to rotate.

Thepressure applying mechanism F is provided for the purpose of pressure holding the drum or spool B downwardly as the ribbon of fibre is being rolled thereon so as to contact the fibre roll as it is formed upon the spool with the driving wheels or members 26 and 27, for the most eflic'ient rolling of the fibre or other material upon the spool.

In order to provide for an efficient conditioning of the ribbon or fibre material as itis rolled upon the spool and to control the accurate width thereof and the smooth sided forming of the roll, I provide the conductor D which includes asuitably curved or shaped metal body surface 30 having side guide walls 82 secured thereto in any approved manner. The body 83 and walls 82 may be integral if desired and made of plastic or anyother desirable material. In the preferred instance, the body is of a material to give convex or fibre contacting smooth surface. This conductor may be detachably connected as at 84 to the walls 33 and 34, or mounted in the space between these walls in any approved manner.- The walls 32 are exactly spaced so that their inside surfaces determine the width of the fibre roll formed upon the spool. The lower end of the conductor D terminates just short of the high point of the wheel 26, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawings, and feeds the fibre ribbon to the top of the Wheel 23 for arcing thereabout to the point where it is circumferentially wrapped upon the spool B. As a very important feature in smoothing the sides of the fibre roll as it is formed, I provide upon the walls 33 and 34 at the point of exit of the fibre ribbon from the conductor D, side forming strips or members 93 and 9| in the form of segments which are attached either by screws or made integral with the walls 33 and 34, as shown in Figures 2 .and 4 of the drawings. The fibre ribbon as it passes-from the lower end of the chute or conductor D contacts the innersurfaces of these side forming members and 9 I, smoothing the fibres and insuring an accurate formation of a roll upon the spool B' with smooth sides, free of loose, or wavy fibre strands. While in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings I have shown the sides of the spool B as spaced from the inner surfaces of the walls 33 and 34, such spacing is actually very close in the machine so as to prevent too much frictional contact and yet prevent any lateral wobbling of the roll of the spool, such as will give a wavy appearance to the sides of the fibre roll formed thereon.

.. The drawing frame E includes the rollers J00 andrlfltzwhich receive individual layers 102 lOfQ fibre and form them into the ribbon whichisfed through. the conductor chute tocthe spool B; s The the rollBundersufficient tension .toiprevent any loosenesstherein; The tension alonglthis zribbon. to=thespoolvB does not-have any effect inzzthei denseewin'ding of zthe ribbon upon the spoolrB,t.

since pressure ofnthe; fibre as itrolls upon; the

spool B incident -tor the force providing; means .1, to be subsequently described, is responsible for; the compact .and. efiicientfforming ,of the roll.

upon the spool or drum B.

Referring toithe force providing: means ;F, :ithesa-me includes a framework: or platform structure II mrotatably, supporting a pair of shafts; II I :and;

I I21in-suitablehearings M3 The shaft. I I I is pIfOavided" with: a pair" of. keyed-wheels :I I5; and. .l I 67-. having suitable flexible cables: I 2 B and 121; respec tlvely'trained thereover, Ea'ch wheel II 5 and-H6 is provided: with an apertured ear. I23: receiving an-adjustable -.bolt. I 24: whichitis 1 connected .-.with theca'ble at one endthereof; as shown inFigure 5. Any slack, or playin the cable may thus be taken up. The cables are trained rearwardly, downwardly. and under the wheels- I I5 and I I5 and extend under: suitable guide pulleys I30 the latter beingpivoted in the-platform structure I5 of the roll supporting frame; the. cableswfrom that point extending upwardly'for. connection with the connector link portions I3 above described? A dragtype of: brake mechanism is associated with-the shaftl I I. Dueto the cable connections I and .I 2I with the shaft II I and the roll formingdrum shaft-I I, as the roll-increases in diameter,- there will-be a tendency; by'reasonofthis pressure, to compact and efiiciently form the rolls The dragtype brake mechanism'includesra wheel I; which is peripherally: grooved.- It 'is keyed upon-the shaft II2. The shafts- III and II! respectively have large and small gears I33 and l34'keyed-thereon, as shown in Figures 2 and 50f the drawings, which are in ratio to providethe necessary pressure to form the roll;

The brake arrangement includes 2; preferably steel ormetal band I keyed at one end one suitable bracket I 4 l secured to a foundation upon which the machine is mountedas shown in Figure 1; the other end having a detachable weight I42. Theband I40 is provided "with a friction providingband- I44; preferably of leather fabric or other band material which operates in the groovepf the wheel I3iito apply-the necessary drag-p V Aiguide-cylinder- I46 -is provided for" the weight I42; toguide the verticalreciprocation thereof. Thiscylinder-may be mounted uponthe founda--- tion* provided for the machine,- as shown in Figure 1.

Inorder rto releasethedrag; upon the wheel I3D;--I provide a manually-operated foot lever. I41 pivoted at- MII- upon the baseor foundationcf the machine; one'end of the lever operating be neath the weight I42 sosthat the'latter; canube. lifted andrelease the drag upon the 1 wheel 1 I 30. Of :course, the weight is detachableone very important function; of this" pressure providing. mechanism: is ithat the weight I42 may. be lifted whenthe roll is'detached from the. cables I26 and. I 2 I to -release the drag and permit return positioningof the cables to start a new roll.

The shaft I I. I. is-provided with a drum or. wheel I 50! 1thereon which is keyed thereto and; has: a

cable; Ilizitra nedrthereover;rthe cablei extendin upwardly over-1a pulley: I 54- r tatably mounted I at; I 5.5;:upontthe; upper end era frame bracket: l 56%;: the-opp site: endor the cable. I521. having za ount-.1 terweieht I 5.1.; thereon. This. count rwei ht will normally; tendetd apply some tens 1inc n1=-t1. e cables! 2 Brand: I2 Ixand assist innrcssu e: apnlicatiomofsthefibres upon the rollagainst the wheels- 2 Brand; 2.1; I, However; the main; pr ssureunon. the fibres being; wound i'cunon; the; drum, or t-spoel incidental; to: diametrical i sizeincrease: of; the 1 roll. as. it is formed; tendinea to rotate the: brake-wheat lamagainst the drag: imposedrthereon; Therma n function .of the counterweight 15:11: is. to return the, cables; I 2.0; and .I 2 I; to a. resetting position; 015' thezspool whendtzis desired; to stantvthe formaa tion' ,oi'za. newroll: thereon. This :isrza very." quick; and; eificientmanner. of .resettingrthe device and: avoids-much manual labor-Whichotherwisemould be" necessary;

It is apparentr fromcthe Ioreeoingdthahthe. amount. of drag imposed upon: theiwheel ;I'30sandthe? pr etapplication :of I the .fibre; onth'e roll: against the drive wheels :26? and. 2] :may. bevaried; by increasing or decreasing theweisht I42 and varying: the ratio a of 1 the .gears; I 3.3 and: I134.

Under: some circumstances :aszlw'here; the roll-T grows to a certain csize, it may be necessary to; apply additional drag; This. is automatically proe. vided for in an auxiliarydevicezu While-thisneed not necessarily be: provided; it's-is; regardedz'as rather essentialgin: iconnectiontwith: the-winding: ore-rolling oii certainrtypes ofrmaterials-upon the spools; Thus, where springy fibres are being formed into rolls, more1 -pressureis 'irequired' againstxtheifibres beingformed on the roll ata. certainpoint in the :forming' of the roll.

'The auxiliary dragiimposing-deviceconsists oft aleverv I III, which is of rectangular.frameformae' tion; pivoted atone end I at: I TI 1 upon. a. standard I12. This lever straddles the rotatingiwheel: I36 and at its opposite end receives a detachable weight" I114;v

The steel I band: portion; Ma ci :the brake band structure is provided with a screw.- threadedebolt stem liliL welded thereto as at IBI; andiextending tangentially. downward from the: wheel. so asrto be spacedzfrom the: band. portion which supports; the weight I42; as shown'in Eigure'l. i A paiizrof. adjustable nuts I; are; adjustably threaded on the bolt stem tltobeneath the frame I70; and a pair .of'nuts IBBare adjustably'threaded onthis shank-above the lever'I'IIl. The lever, I'IIl is providedvwith a fixed aperturedzcross pieceIB'I-thru which the bolt stem I8Ilfreely extends; Ittis. readily; apparent that if theslever IIBZrestsupon the nuts I 85; the weight; I 14.-rwi-l1: impose; a drag. upon the brake band: structure tending :t0;.retard rotation ofthe wheel I30;

A detent mechanism, bestiilustratedin Figure 3' of'ithe drawings,;.is provided, in orderttoisupportlthelever I10, so. that ittpwi'llpnot imposeta drag upon the wheel I l 36. I This .deten-t; mechanismrconsists of atdetent I99 ipivotedat; I 9 I 1 upon a suitable standard I92. The .detent; engages, inrpositionrbeneath.the lever I lilyaseshown in Figure 3, .tozfhold. the same ealoft rand-prevent its weighted: end n. from. contacting the; nuts it I 851 Thus, in this;position,thezauxiliarycdrag provide ing device does note-imposetanvi drasx-unonthe wheel I 30.7,

I. provide adiustabletri mechanism-for trip; ping the detent: 19.0: and releasing the; lever 50 that it can impose thenadditionalwdra .JADQn the wheel I30 tending-to; increase the pressureane.

plication upon the material being wound upon the drum B. This trip mechanism includes a trip member 200 having an end secured at 20l axially upon the shaft I I2. The opposite end may engage the rim of the wheel I30. The radial position of the trip member 200 upon the wheel I30 determines the trip position of the wheel I30. In order to properly position the trip member 290, I provide a series of sockets 203 annularly around the hub of the wheel I30, as shown in Figure 1, which may receive a detachable pin 204 mounted upon the trip member 200, spaced from the connected end 20L Thus, the member 290 may be moved like the hand of a dial around the wheel I30 to properly position the same for tripping the detent I 90 at any desired diametrical size of the roll being formed upon the spool or drum B. In Figure 3 is shown the shape of the head 2I0 of the detent I90. The trip member 200 has a cam action on this head 2I0 which will insure the tripping of the same and dropping of the lever I10 to the dot and dash position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings for application of the additional drag upon the wheel I30.

It is to be noted from Figure 3 of the drawings that the detent I90 has a counterbalance end portion 2I2 which normally throws the detent I90 into position for restraining dropping movement of the lever I10.

It will be readily apparent from the foregoing that when the roll is detached from the cables I20 and I2I, as thru the removal of the connecting links I3 from the shaft II, the counterweight I5'I will not only return the cable I26 and I2I to a new roll forming position, but since the drag has been released thru the foot lever I41, the wheel I30 will be turned to a reset position. Pressing the foot lever I41, through bank I40 and its bolt stem nuts I85 will lift lever I10 upwardly past the detent I90 to a resetting position of the auxiliary drag.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing. As before mentioned, the wheels 26 and 2'! have frictional contact with the material to be wound upon the'spool. The fluting of these wheels increases the nature of this driving contact; the grooving or fluting, of course, being of such nature as not to destroy the fibres in the ribbon being rolled. The shaft ll moves upwardly as the size of the roll increases, against resistance (offered to such increase in size) by reason of the drag mechanism above described. When the roll has reached a predetermined size, if it is desired to use the auxiliary drag, the detent will be tripped and the auxiliary drag will impose an additional resistance to rotation of the wheel I30, as above explained. When the roll has reached the desired size, which may be determined by suitable signal device (not shown), all that is necessary for the operator to do is to press the foot lever I4'i, releasing the drag upon the wheel I30. The connecting links I3 may then be readily lifted a short distance to align the larger portions I of the openings therein so the portions I3 may be slipped off of the ends of the shaft II. Release of the links I3 will permit the counterweight I5I to wind the cables I20 and I2I back upon their respective wheels Ill: and H6 on the shaft II to a resetting position, and the operator may then remove the roll. A new drum may be inserted; the shaft II being threaded thru the axial opening in the new spool and the connecting pieces I3 applied to'connect the cables 8 I20 and lil with the shaft in the manner above described.

While I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to wind ribbons of material upon spools or rolls, in the rope forming industry no one has heretofore been able to satisfactorily roll fibre, such as flax, hemp and jute upon drums or spools so as to properly condition the same for further treatment. Utilizing the improved method and machine herein described, I am able to compactly and efficiently roll the ribbons of fibre upon the drum in a manner which will give the desired density to the fibres, so that they will not dry out; thus improving the quality thereof. In conventional practice it is customary to permit the ribbons to drop into cans. As many as ten of these cans are necessary, due to the looseness of the ribbons dropping into'the cans, to provide a fibre ribbon of the desired length. In such cases, splices are sometimes necessary which is avoided with the present roll formation. In actual use of these machines, there is a saving over the heretofore conventional methods and devices used of at least fifty per cent in labor and even a higher percentage in operating and maintenance expense, etc.

Various changes in the steps of the method of forming the roll and in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of the invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a fibre roll former the combination of a drum adapted to receive a roll of flexible ribbon-like material, drive means peripherally engaging the material as it is wound upon said drum for rolling said material upon the drum, means connected with the drum normally tending to impose pressure of the material against said drive means as the roll increases in size, side Walls cooperating with the drum at the sides thereof for preventing eccentric forming of the ribbon of roll as it increases in size upon the drum, and guide members cooperatively related to the walls immediately in advance of the feed of the ribbon upon the drum having guide surfaces spaced slightly inwardly of the inside surfaces of said walls whereby to form the width of the roll slightly less than the direct spacing between the inside surfaces of said walls.

2. In a fibre roll former the combination of a drum adapted to receive a roll of flexible ribbonlike material, drive means peripherally engaging the material as it is wound upon said drum for rolling said material upon the drum, means connected with the drum normally tending to impose pressure of the material against said drive means as the roll increases in size, side walls cooperating with the drum at the sides thereof for preventing eccentric forming of the roll as it increases in size upon the drum, and guide members cooperatively related to the walls immediately in advance of the feed of the ribbon upon the drum having guide surfaces spaced slightly inwardly of the inside surfaces of said walls whereby to form the width of the roll slightly less than the direct spacing between the inside surfaces of said walls, and a guide chute for feeding the ribbon between said guide members.

3. In a fibre roll forming device the combination of a frame, a pair of drive rollers mounted upon the frame, a ribbon receiving drum, means mounting the drum upon said frame for movement away from said drive rollers as the size of the ribbon wound upon the drum increases, cable means connected with said drum, pulleymeans over whichithe, cable meansis trained, andmeans exerting pressure on said cable means for pullingthe drumagainst said. drive rollers comprising an adjustable brake .drag, an auxiliary brakingmeanaand meansfor tripping andrendering effective the auxiliarybraking means upon" said first mentioned brakedrag for the application of additional pressure upon said roll as the latte reaches a predetermined size.

4. In a fibre roll forming device the combination of a. frame, a pair of drive rollers mounted upon the frame, a ribbon receiving drumpmeans mounting the drum upon said frame formovement away from said drive rollers as the size of the ribbon wound upon the drum increases, cable means connected with said drum, pulley means over which the cable means is trained, and means exerting pressure on said cable means for pulling the drum against said drive rollers comprising an adjustable brake drag, an auxiliary braking means, means for tripping and rendering effective the auxiliary braking means upon said first mentioned brake drag for the application of additional pressure upon said roll as the latter reaches a predetermined size, and means normally acting upon said cables to return them to resetting position when the drum is removed from said cables.

5. In a roll forming device for wrapping a ribbon of flexible material upon a spool, the combination of a rotatable spool, a rotatable drive wheel adapted to peripherally engage the outer layer of the ribbon being wound upon the spool for rotating the spool and winding the ribbon thereon, means to urge said spool in the direction of said drive wheel for pressure application of the ribbon being wound thereon against said drive wheel, means to release said pressure, means to increase the application of magnitude of said pressure, detent means normally holding said last mentioned means inoperative, and trip means actuated by predetermined size formation of the roll to release said detent means for the applica tion of the additional pressure upon the ribbon being wound.

6. In a roll forming device for wrapping a ribbon of flexible material upon a spool, the combination of a rotatable spool, a rotatable drive wheel adapted to peripherally engage the outer layer of the ribbon being wound upon the spool for rotating the spool and winding the ribbon thereon, a cable attached to said spool, a wheel remote from the spool for Winding of the cable thereon, a brake wheel, means connecting the cable winding wheel with the brake wheel for rotation of the brake wheel upon rotation of the cable re ceiving wheel, a brake band mechanism for the brake wheel, means to apply braking of the band upon the brake wheel, means to release the braking eifect, and counterweight means having operative connection with the cable winding wheel tending to wind the cable thereon.

'7. In a roll forming device the combination of a drum adapted to receive a roll of flexible material, driving means to peripherally engage the material as it is wound upon said drum for rolling said material upon the drum, and means connected with the drum normally tending to impose pressure of the material against said driving means as the roll increases in size, including a frame, a rotatable shaft upon the frame, a wheel keyed upon the shaft, an operating cable operatively connected with the drum and wheel for winding upon the latter, a second shaft rotatably mounted upon the frame, a brake Wheel keyed upon said second shaft, means ratio gearing the shafts together, a brake band mechanismfor said brake wheel, means to apply braking action of ingmeans as the roll increases in sizerincluding 'a, frame, a; rotatable shaftupon theyframe, a

wheel keyed upon the shaft, an operating cable operatively connected with the drum and wheel for winding upon the latter, a second shaft rotatably mounted upon the frame, a brake wheel keyed upon said second shaft, means ratio gearing the shafts together, a brake band mechanism for said brake wheel, means to apply a braking action of said band upon said brake wheel, means to release said braking action, an auxiliary braking means for said brake band, detent means normally retaining said auxiliary means inoperative, and trip means associated with said brake wheel to trip the detent means at a predetermined point in the rotation of said brake wheel to impose additional drag upon the brake band acting upon said brake wheel.

9. In a roll forming device for the winding of a roll of flexible material, the combination of a frame, a drum rotatably supported by the frame for receiving the flexible material, rotary drive means associated with the drum and engageable with the outer peripheral roll portion of the material as it is wound upon the drum, cable means connected with the drum, a brake tending to resist movement of the cable means as the size of the roll upon the drum increases, means to release the braking effect upon said cable, an auxiliary braking means operatively associated with the first mentioned braking means, means normally maintaining said auxiliary braking means inoperative includin a detent, and trip means operated at a predetermined size rotation of said roll upon the drum for tripping the detent and adding the auxiliary braking means to the effective braking action of the first mentioned brake.

10. In a roll forming device the combination of a frame, rotary drive means upon the frame, a drum associated with the drive means for receiving a roll of flexible material thereon, the frame supporting the drum so that it may bodily move towards and away from the drive means and so related to the drive means that the flexible material wound thereon will engage the drive means to rotate the drum for the rolling of the flexible material thereon, a cable connected with the drum, a wheel upon the frame upon which the cable is wound, brake means associated with said wheel normally tending to resist unwinding of the cable from said wheel as the size of the roll increases for the purpose of applicatlon of pressure upon the material wound upon the drum against said drive means, means to release the braking action of said brake means, an auxiliary weight for imposition of additional braking action upon the brake means, means normally maintaining said weight inoperative including a detent, and trip means associated with the brake means to trip said detent and normally 11 impose the force of the weight means upon the brake means to add to the braking action when the size of the material wound upon the roll reaches a. predetermined diameter.

THOMAS C. TAGGART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number Name Date Davis Nov. 4, 1930 Draper et a1 Nov. 4, 1930 Wilkinson et a1. Feb. 7, 1933 Cameron July 10, 1934 Jones June 23, 1936 Fraser Apr. 1, 1941 Thomas et a1 Apr. 15, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1893 Great Britain 1903 Great Britain 1912 Great Britain Apr. 17, 1940 

